Automatic load-adjuster.



L. H. FLANDERS.

AUTOMATIC LOAD ADIUSTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.15. 1909.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

- INVENTOR.

i F Qfl-lJ-u A 15 ATTORNEY IN FACT- UNITED STATES PATENT orrroa.

LOUIS H. FLANDERS,

or EnGEwoon PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE,ELECTRIC STORAGE IB ATTERY COMPANY, OF 1?HILALDEL- arr PHIL,PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC LOAD-ADJUSTER.

- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J an. 11, 1916.

Application filed March 15, 1909. Serial No. -t 83,5 '2'1 To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS H. FLANDERS, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have madea new and useful Inventionin AutomaticLoad-Adjusters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a system of electrical distribution in which aload adjuster is employed to maintain an average load upon thegenerating circuit,

, The invention is shown as employing a v load adjuster used inconnection with a regulating system of electrical distribution employinga generator circuit, a working circuit, a storage battery, a boostercontrolled by a suitable regulator so arranged as to cause the storagebattery to charge and discharge so as to maintain a constant load orconstant voltage or constant current upon the generating system. In suchsystems the regulator is usually adjusted by hand to determine the valueof the load maintained approximately constant upon the generatingsystem. long as the battery is not overcharged or overdischarged oruntil the capacity of the booster is exceeded. It is therefore thepractice to frequently change the adjustment of the regulator whichusually consists in changing the spring or by cutting in or cutting outresistance in acontrolled circuit by means of a rheostat, thisadjustmentbeing usually effected by hand. The continued overcharge oroverdischarge of the battery is injurious both in point of efficiencyand on account of increased depreciation. Attempts have been made tolimit this overcharge or overdischarge by limiting the booster voltage,but if the load is fluctuating this method is ineffective as the stateof charge or discharge of the battery is not proportional to the voltageunder fluctuating load conditions and is only proportional to thespecific gravity of the solution or electrolyte of the battery.

One of the objects of my invention is to obviate the disadvantages aboveenumerated and to provide an average load adjuster This load will remainconstant so tension of the regulating zvhich will be entirely automaticin its ac- Another object of the invention is to proyide means whereby aload upon the generator circuit will be dependent upon the specificgravity of the electrolyte or solution of the-battery used in connectionwith said circuit. Broadlystated the means of maintaining the averageload upon the generator circuit is controlled by an element sensitive inits action to changes in specific gravity of the solution of thebattery, an example being a hydrometer placed in the electrolyte of abattery cell so as to rise and fall dependent upon whether the batteryis, charged or discharged. The means selected for illustrat1on is shownas employing a hydrometer provided with a contact adapted to close thecircuit either when the specific gravity of the battery has been broughtup to a determined value or when it has dropped to a determined point.The variation of movement of the movable contact between any desiredminimum and maximum specific gravity of the battery may be determined bycomparing with a. standard hydrometer. A shunt circuit controlling theregulator is provided in the generator circuit in which is a rheostatresistance, units of which are adapted to be -cut in or cut outdepending upon the load and the condition of the battery. When onecircuit governed by the hydrometer is closed one or more resistanceunits of the rheostat may be cut out of the shunt circuit (in the maincircuit) but when the other circuit is closed the resistances will besuccessively cut in u'ntil (under certain conditions) the full load isthrown on the generator. When the movable contact is in its meanposition, that is fluctuating between the two stationary contacts, therheostat governing mechanism will not be actuated, so the resistancewill be unafiected during the time that the movable contact isfluctuating between the extremelimits of its mean position. Thus as anumber of resistance elements of the rheostat are cut out of the shuntcircuit to lower the specific gravity of the battery by reducing thegenerator load the movable contact will drop so as to break the circuitfor controlling the rheostat and the rheostat arm will remain in theposition which it happened to be at the time the circuit is broken untilthe specific gravity of the elec trolyte drops enough to enable themovable contact to rest upon the lower stationary contact so as to closeits circuit and thereby cause theidieostat arm to move in a position tocut in the resistance units to bring the specific gravity of theelectrolyte up to the desired value by raising the average load.

The figure in the drawing is diagrammatically a view of a systemconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference, 1 and 2designate line wires of different signs of the generator or main linecircuit, and in the present instance the one designated by theplus signis provided with a shunt circuit in which there is a regulator 3 and arheostat 4. The regulator may be of any preferred construction I but Ihave diagrammatically illustrated a and 13' .means of a fastening formof regulator merely to afford a comprehensive idea of the operation of asystem equipped with my invention. The wire on the plus side of therheostat is designated by the reference numeral 5 and it is connected toregulator 3 by binding posts or any suitable connection (not shown).

5 is a conductor between the regulator and the rheostat 4. The wire onthe minus sign side of the rheostat is designated by the numeral 6. Therheostat 4 is provided with usual resistances 7, the contact arm beingconnected up to the wire 5' which is in fact a continuation of the wire5, while the resistance units are connected in series with the wire 6.The rheostat arm is motor driven by a gearing 9 receiving motion fromthe motor 10. The motor 10 is intermittently' driven and the current fedthereto through the wires 11 and 12 may be fed from any source ofgeneration (in this instance the main line wires 1 and 2). The circuitis closed by solenoids of the relays 13 or 14 and 14', the contacts ofthe latter solenoids being in the shunt circuit comprising the wires 15and 16. In the path of the wire 11 is a circuit maker and breaker ortiming device designated by the reference numerals 17. This circuitmaker and breaker 17 is driven through gearing 18 which receives motionfrom a constantly driven variable speed motor 19 receiving energy fromany suitable source but here shown as receiving the electromotive forcefrom the main line circuit. The maker and breaker 17 may comprise aconducting core 22 on which are two contact carrying rings 23 and 24,one of these being adjustable with relation to the other and saidcontact rings being held in any adjustable position by device as a screw25. The contacts designated by the reference numerals 27 and 28respectively are carried by the said rings, so that by adjusting therings with relation to each other the length of contact with the brush29 may be varied, it being understood that the rings 23 and 24 exceptfor contact portions 27 and 28 are insulated from the core 22. Thebattery is made up of a plurality of cells, one of which is illustratedin section, the remaining ones being shown in diagram. The battery cellsmay each comprise the usual receptacle 30 with the usual plates andelectrolyte therein. On one of the cells is a suitable stationarycontact support 31 which may assume any form adapted to hold stationarycontacts, as for example those designated by the reference numerals 32and 33 determined distances apart. 'In the cell 30 may be placed ahydrometer 34 having a stem 35 extending through the top 'of the celland provided with a contact 36 adapted to aline with both said contacts32 and 33, said contact 36 being provided with a suitable conductor, (1,extending down into the electrolyte of the battery cell. Leading fromthe contact 32 is a conductor 37 of which the coils of the solenoids 13and 13 form a part, said circuit terminating at a point A and extendin'to the ground through the wire 38. Leading from the contact 33 is aconductor 39 of which the coils of the solenoids 14 and 14' form a part,said conductor terminating at A and being grounded through the groundwire 38. v

The circuits through the conductors 37 and 39 are completed through thebattery by means of the ground wire 40. It will be apparent that wheneither set of solenoids is excited the bridge pieces of the respectiverelays will be caused to close the gap formed by the contacts in thecircuits which these relays control. For example if the solenoids 13 and13 are energized the bridge pieces 13 and 13 will close the gaps formedby the contacts 41 and 41', or if the. solenoids 14 and 14 are energizedthe-bridge pieces 14 and 14 will close the gaps formed by the contacts42 and 42, thus the circuits formed by the wires or conductors 43 and 44will be closed by the relays 13 and 13 or the circuit formed by the wireor conductors 15 and 16 will be closed by the relays 14 and 14'. Supposethe operator to have adjusted the contacts 32 and 33 determineddistances apart. If the load on the external circuit becomes excessivethe specific gravity of the electrolyte in the battery will becomedepleted causing the hydrometer to be lowered and the contacts 36 and 33to close the circuit 39, to energize the coils of the solenoids 14 and14 and close the circuit formed by the wires 15 and 16. The wire 15 willthen be the plus wire and the motor 10 will be intermittently actuatedon account of the contact maker and breaker 17 permitting intermittentimpulses to be given to the armature of the motor 10 and thearm 8' willmove so as to increase the resistance at 7 and continue its movementintermittently until the previously made contact at 33 is broken causedby the average load on the generator being increased due to the changein adjustment of the regulator through the new position of the arm 8which results in the net discharge of the battery being checked andfinally results in the battery receiving the net charge. When thislatter condition is reached the specific gravity of the electrolyte willincrease and the contact 36 will rest against the contact 32 so as toenergize the circuit 37 and the current passing from the opposite sideof the armature from the motor 10 will cause said motor to reverse andthe arm 8 will have movement imparted to it in a reverse direction tothat caused by energizing the circuit 39 and the movement of the arm 8may intermittently continue untilthe average load has been reduced andthe specific gravity lowered by sufficient amount to break the contactat 32. It will be appreciated in ordinary operation that the battery maycharge and discharge intermittently and the external load change throughsuch a range as to cause the specific gravity to fluctuate withoutchanging the load maintained on the generator'circuit so long as thechange in gravity is such as to'prevent the contact 36 from restingagainst either the contact 32 or 33 and that this range can be varied atpleasure by changing the distance between the contacts to suit theparticular conditions under which the system is. being used. .It willfollow that under normal conditions the average external loads beingapproximately equal to the load in the generator circuit the contact 36will remain approximately stationary as long as this condition continuesand the rheostat arm 8 will rest upon such point as to permit thecurrent to pass directly through the conductor 5. As the average of thefluctuating load in the external circuit becomes greater than thegenerator load the regulator will cause the battery to discharge anamount equal to the difierencebetween the extern'al load and thegenerator load and this discharge will continue as long as the loadexists. The specific gravity of the solution of electrolyte will fall,the hydrometer will drop, and if the condition still continues, willdrop to close the circuit 39.

I have so far described the operation of the system irrespective of anyspecific form of regulator as regulators have heretofore been used, butin order to make the invention clear I have diagrammatically shown aregulator which may briefly be described asv follows: 45 is an ammeterarm pivoted at 70, the coil 46 of which is opposed by a spring 47 aswill be well understood. 48.is

a contact adapted to contact with the end 49 of the arm 45 when thespring47 overcomes the torque of the coil 46. From the contact 48 is aconductor 50, passing around a core 51 of an electromagnet and thenconnected to the minus wire 2. Leading from the arm 45 is a conductor 52connected tothe plus wire of the main line. Thus when contacts 48 and 49are closed a circuit will be energized through the conductors 50 and 52so that the electromagnet 51 will attract the armature 53 carried by thevibratory arm 54 which is pivoted at 71 and is provideglwit-h a spring55 opposed to themagnet The arm 54 is provided with a double contact 56adapted to contact with either of two contacts 57 or 58 in circuitrespectively with the equal and opposite, fields 59 and 60 of. thebooster exciter 61 which cooperates with the booster 62 in the batterycircuit comprising the wires 63 and 64. A conductor 65 leads from one ofthe main line conductors to the equal and opposite fields while aconductor 66 leads from the other main line conductor to the lever orarm 54 so when the circuit formed by the wires 50 and 52 is energizedand the contact 53 is attracted by the electromagnet 51 the current willpass through the conductor 66, through the arm 54, contacts 56 and 58,through the field 59 and through the conductor 65. When the contact 53is not attracted by the electromagnet 51 the current will pass throughthe conductor 66, arm 54, contacts 56 and 57, field 60, and through theconductor 65 all in a manner well known, so it is thought that it isunnecessary for the purpose of this case to enter into an extendeddescription of the operation of the regulator, booster exciter andbooster, as other suitable regulatorsmay be substituted for the oneherein described.

The variation of specific gravity takes place slowly in response tosustained changes in the average load, and rapid fluctuations do notproduce suflicient change of specific gravity for operating the device.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havedescribed the principle of operation of my invention, together with theapparatus which. I now consider to represent the best embodimentthereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown isonly illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by othermeans.

What I claim is:

1. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination of a storageapparatus and its regulator, electromechanical means for controllingsaid regulator and continually operating means for periodicallyinterrupting the circuit of the controlling means,

whereby it is made slow acting.

2. In a system of electrical distribution, and electric circuit and itssource, a storage battery operatively arranged to deliver and receiveenergy to and from said circuit, a shunt around a portion of theelectric circuit having a regulator and a rheostat therein, a motor forcontrolling said rheostat, a circuit for said motor, a motor-drivencircuit maker and breaker for the motor circuit, and means dependentupon the specific gravity of the solution of the battery for controllingthe circuit of the motor.

3. In a system of electrical distribution, an electric circuit and' itssource, a storage battery in parallel with the circuit, a shunt circuitfrom the first mentioned circuit and a regulator for the battery in theshunt circuit, a rheostat in the regulator circuit, an actuator for therheostat, a timing device for the actuator, and a circuit closer for therheostat actuator dependent for its movement upon the specific gravityof electrolyte in a battery cell.

4. Ina system of electrical distribution, an electrical circuit and itssource, a storage battery in parallel with the circuit, a regulator forthe battery, a rheostat in the regulator circuit, an actuator for therheostat, a variable timing device for the actuator in the actuatorcircuit, and a circuit maker and breaker for the actuator circuitdependent for its movement upon the state of battery charge ordischarge.

In con'ibinatioman electric circuit and its source, storage apparatusadapted to receive and deliver energy from and to the circuit, aregulator for controlling the division of load between the source andthe storage apparatus, a-hydrometer device responsive to the conditionof the storage apparatus and adapted to adjust the regulator to vary theload on the source, and means for periodically interrupting theoperation of the hydrometer device, whereby it is made slower actingthan the regulator.

6. In combination, an electric circuit and its source, a storage batteryadapted to receive and deliver energy from and to the circuit, means forcontrolling the division of load between the source and the batter anadjusting device responsive to the specific gravity of the electrolytein the battery and adapted to adjust the controlling means to vary theload on the source, and means for periodically interrupting theoperation of the adjusting device, whereby it is made slower acting thanthe controlling means.

7. In combination, an electric circuit and its source, storage apparatusadapted to receive and deliver energy from and to the LOUIS H. FLANDERS.lVitnesses CHARLES W. MCGIIEE, C. \V. BALLAY.

